Chichester

Chichester's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage and housing tenure.

The population passed 110,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Chichester increased by 6.9%, from just over 106,000 to 114,000.

The addition of just over 7,300 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Chichester was home to, on average, 1 person per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the South East's least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Relationships in Chichester

The percentage of married people fell in Chichester at a faster rate than in nearby Waverley.

In Chichester, the proportion of married people decreased from 56% in 2001 to 52% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Waverley decreased from 56% to 55%.

Across the South East, the share of married people decreased from 53% to 49%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Chichester increased from 24% to 27%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.9% to 12%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Housing in Chichester

The percentage of households that owner their home fell here, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In Chichester, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 70% in 2001 to 67% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion decreased from 73% to 67%.

Across England, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 68% to 63%.

Private renting in Chichester increased from 11% to 15%, while the rate of social housing remained close to 15%.

The rate of home ownership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Chichester residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.2% to 4.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Chichester residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Chichester decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Chichester, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Chichester

The number of people in Chichester from the White ethnic groups increased from about 100,000 in 2001 to just over 110,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Chichester from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 650 in 2001 to about 1,600 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.4%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 660 to just under 1,100 (from 0.6% to 1.0%).

About 520 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 210 in 2001 (0.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Chichester decreased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Chichester by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Chichester working less than 16 hours increased from 2.4% to 3.6% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 16% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Chichester increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Chichester, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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